- South Dartmoor back to winning ways in cups
- Tom Allin tournament raised more than £5,000 for air ambulance
- Taverners kit bag delivered to Sri Lankan youngsters
- Devon trying to contact the class of 56
- Paceman Tshepo running in Virgin London Marathon
- Five Devon women in Western Storm squad for Kia Super League
- Registration night for all ages at Topsham on Monday
- Lots pouring in for auction at Allin Memorial tournament
- Thames Valley Gentlemen Cricket Club
- Bradninch add Argentinian flavour to Devon League
- Ipplepen youth registration night on Friday
- Final call for Groundsmans first seminar this year
- Devon League official tackling London Marathon for charity
- Bovey on familiar territory in Aaron Printers Cup
- Brockman Cup - Cup Kings lie in wait for holders
- Shepherd Trust helps Kingsbridge build for sustainable future
- DCL - Umpire Appointments 2016 (May 7th - July 2nd)
- Long standing records beaten
- North Devon see off Paignton chase
BABBACOMBE will be having a promotion party after playing Topsham St James at Walls Hill on Saturday.
For promotion as champions was clinched last time out following a 129-run win over Whimple
Babbacombe are 24 points clear at the top of the table with 22 points to play for and can’t be caught.
The only question left is who goes up with them - Whitchurch or Whimple?
Jacob Hands slammed 143 not out, Rob Redding chipped in with 54 and Mike Pugh made 36 as Babbacombe amassed 303 for seven.
Two of Babbacombe’s golden oldies – Paul Bates (4-15) and Dave Williams (3-48) then shot Whimple out for 174.
WHITCHURCH’S promotion push is still on after a nervous afternoon at home to Kentisbeare.
Batting first Whitchurch struggled to get going. Ben Powell scratched around, as Hazeldine got through his 9 overs for just 16 runs.
Billy Barriball stepped on the gas with a quickfire 38, but his team were behind the run rate for setting a challenging total.
As the overs ran down, Powell was still licking off the singles while his team mates searched fro boundaries. Kent’s bowling remained tight and their fielding disciplined.
Josh Vernon’s controlled aggression saw him score 44 to help his side over the 200 mark. Powell then departed for 52 with 2 balls of the innings left, the first of which rob Bone launched over the bowler’s head for 6.
Whitchurch posting 207 for 5, several short of par at home.
After the early loss of Thomas, Kentisbeare’s reply was making serene progress. Farley with 71 and Ogden 37, helped their side to 121 for 1 with 128 overs remaining.
Whitchurch’s fight then kicked in. A fast and hostile spell by Vernon ripped out the leg stump of both Ogden and Benzie to leave the visitors on 161 for 5 and the run rate nearing 6 runs an over.
A mix up between Reed and Chappell, accompanied by some good fielding, gave Whitchurch another wicket, before Norman restored the swingometer in Kent’s favour again.
As the overs ran down it was nip and tuck. Skipper Barriball introduced himself to the attack at the critical moment, taking the responsibility on to his young shoulders.
With 1 over to go, Kentisbeare needed 2 runs with 3 wickets in hand. A single of Barriball’s first ball, left the scores level. Off the next ball, Billy took a stunning return catch.
The nerves were jangling all around the ground.
Two more dot balls followed so it was down to the last delivery. Barriball appealed for lbw but the coolest man in the ground, ‘keeper Darren Chappell casually picked the ball up and took off the bails to run out Norman for 23.
The scores finished tied with everyone mentally exhausted. Whitchurch collecting 15 points from the game.
TOPSHAM St Jams made it seven wins in the last eight games when they overcame Yarcombe by six wickets.
Yarcombe won the toss on what looked like a cracking batting track, and elected to bat.
With captain Ross Treleaven on holiday, it was down to the other bowlers to step up and make an impact.
Nick Horne (1-24) bowled with his normal pace and aggression without any luck. Brian Jeary (1-26) and part-timer Ed Baxter (1-36) left Yarcombe 54-2 until James Mitcham and Billy Reed put on 75 for the third wicket.
Yarcombe were in a commanding position at 129-2 until captain Alex Sparkes (3-30) and senior spinner Charlie Penn (2-33) ripped through the remaining batsmen.
Yarcombe capitulated from 129 for 2 to 177 all out, which was about 50 runs more than they maybe should have got, five dropped catches not helping the Saints cause.
In reply Alex Sparkes was hit in front of all three and departed lbw for 15.
This soon became 33-2 with Baxter out for zero.
Nick Horne and Jim Shepherd rebuilt the innings, with a partnership of 74. Horne was out for 49, followed in quick succession by Shepherd for 31.
Scoring was becoming more difficult with the light dimming and irregular bounce becoming more frequent.
Nick Crew and Joe Thomlinson batted very patiently, looking to score of the bad balls, judging the run chase perfectly.
The pair put on 54 to see Topsham home with two overs to spare, picking up maximum points. Crew was 29 not out and Thomlinson 28 not out.
Topsham travel to promoted Babbacombe this Saturday looking to do the double over them and secure an excellent fourth place finish.
KILMINGTON set themselves up for a top four finish in the E Division with a six-wicket win at home to Kenn.
Ralph Stonex struck a sweet 79 in the final home game of the league season as Kilmington eased past the home side’s 224-8 with just four wickets down.